# solemnly swear

“ to each his own. “ she smirked. “ and you’re very confident to think you’ll stand a chance against us this year. “

“ To be fair--- you lot aren’t exactly strong competition, so why should I be concerned?”

“Maybe I’m more surprising than you give me credit for.”

“Hard to take you seriously with those kneezle cheeks.”

“ staring is rude, don’t you know? “ erik called out without even lifting his gaze from the pages of his book. 

“Not my fault that I can’t get enough of your pretty face.”

Don’t worry, I’m back to make sure my mates don’t burn the school down or anything.

‘If I wanted to, I could burn the school down easily and their would be nothing you could do to stop me.”

“Oh no!” Mary gasped, unable to keep herself form laughing. “That’s… well I guess it’s good that it’s only nearly breaking a hip.” She shook her head. “Sounds far more exciting than my summer. I mostly just sat in a booth at the back of the pub where my mum works, reading and waiting for her to get off. I got dragged into helping a few times when her coworkers didn’t show up… but that was as exciting as it got.”

“It was highly entertaining---- we can just leave it at that. I just thank Merlin, that dad was wearing trousers under his robe this time.” James laughed. “Your summer sounds very tame though; Boring yes--- but tame. Tell me that you at least met a cute bloke while you were waiting around?”

“Thanks, mate. Knew you’d come around.”

“And here I thought the noble Gryffindor would look down on me silencing everyone who spoke too loudly around me.” 

“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had. After all, it seems like a very pureblood Black thing to do.”

“Well, I can never say no to that proposition. Although, I know for a f a c t that you’ll be eating your words here shortly. Meet you at the pitch in five?”

“ not that i can blame you, “ she shrugged. “ never too early to be mourning over gryffindor’s lost for the quidditch cup. “

“You’re very cocky considering we haven’t even had a first game yet.”

“ i could summon one if it means to get you back in your senses. “ he replied in a casual tone. their never-ending bickering grew into a form of bonding over the years of their silly quidditch rivalry. “ so, would you like me to whack you? i’d also like to point out that’s kinky, potter. “

James snorted into his cauldron at the threat; mainly because he knew that it was an actual possibility that Erik would do such a thing. “Alright, alright. No dire need for violence.” He grinned lopsidely. “Although if you think that’s kinky----- then you would probably die if you heard what i’m actually into.”

“..But I want it, though.”

“Alright, then.” He replied, a careless shrug to his shoulders as he turned away.

“ would you like a tissue? you look like you’re about to break into tears. “

“ Get a grip, Vanity. “

“Wow. Model students? You mean something you’ll actually be even though some how you still are? They’d be absolutely perfect! I’m not surprised you call that utterly reckless when you are exactly that! You want to be the favorite, you’re going to have to earn that spot.”

James stared at them for a very long moment after Lily had finished speaking. Their words rang in his head, but in the moment---- he couldn’t really figure out a proper response. So James gave an uneven shrug, and took a step back. “Being your favorite is not really an honest concern of mine. I’m only taking the piss y’know.”

“My my, aren’t we impatient.”

Right, yes of course. Friends. That’s what we are.

“One?” James quirked his eyebrow in response. “I better be your fucking favorite mate.”